In a recent pastoral visit by Bishop Dagoberto Sosa Arriaga
to the parish of St. James the Apostle in Acatepec, two young indigenous women
shared the following words with the bishop. I suspect that their thoughts
reflect what many supporters of Mission Mexico think. Here, in English translation, is part of what they said:
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| Father Francisco, Bishop Dagoberto, and Father Ruben are received by the villagers of Acaptepec |
The Mountain is a beautiful place, beautiful for its views,
its people, its cultures. And especially beautiful because we have learned how
to live despite all of the adverse circumstances that surround us. We know how
to laugh and how to share with others. We are like a log on the campfire,
always ready to give heat and light to those who need such. We live with a
great hope in a better future, but the uncertainty, the abandonment, the
extreme poverty, and the violence force us to ask ourselves if this better
future is possible.
The
main question is: Why? It’s a simple word that requires big
answers—and a big commitment of everyone in this country.
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| The two young women share their reflections with the bishop |
Why do our children, young people, and adults of the indigenous
peoples of Mexico (and of other places in the world) have no shoes, no clothing,
no food, no decent house, no higher education? Why are we poor and marginalized; why
do we die of hunger and thirst? Other people walk around with shoes and
clothing and with a full stomach. And some even have cars, planes,
helicopters, beautiful houses. And we are made more impoverished by having to
pay high fees for taxes, electricity, propane, gasoline, and basic food items.
Why do some have to die before being born, or at a very
tender age? Why are there no medicines in our health centers? Why are there no
doctors? Why is it that others, who speak other languages and are of a different
color, have good salaries, health care, pensions, food, telephone—everything,
it seems?
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| The cemetery in Metlatonoc on the Day of the Dead, on November 2 |
Why is it that others can live to 70 or 80 or 90? Why do
others get to decide our salary and our future? Why are some so incredibly rich
and we so miserably poor? Is this what God wants, or is it a decision made by
just a few or by those who govern us? Why is there such inequality? Why are
there the exploited and the exploiters? Is this what it means to be civilized
or to have a conscience? We have received enough fine words. We need concrete
actions! We have had enough promises, reforms, and counter-reforms—it seems
that these only make us poorer.
Mexico is a rich country, with hard-working people and many
natural resources. But what good does this do if our institutions, our
politicians, our court system, and even international organizations do not work
to see that there is a fair distribution of these goods?
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| Looking elderly doesn't mean that one is elderly |
Why are our decisions not respected among the different institutions
of our country? Why are there false promises, electoral fraud, no real democracy?
The mass media sells its soul to the highest bidder. The politicians get rich
from programs that are supposed to help the poor. People speak about peace,
justice, love, charity, respect. Yet we native peoples experience little of
that.
Everyone says that we want peace—but there can be no peace
without justice, without reconciliation, without a change of attitude and
conduct, without meeting the needs of the poor, without an end to repression, without
the guidance of the Spirit of God.
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| Children from Tototepec—hopefully their future is a beautiful one |
If I
could—if it were in my hands—I would create a different world,
where we human beings would be truly human, where there would be no misery, no
hunger, no injustices, no violence, no discrimination against the indigenous peoples. A world where we would all love one another and look after one
another.
If I could, I would invest in science and technology so
that no would have to be hungry, and no one would lack their daily bread (and maybe
there could be a little extra for an ice cream or a chocolate bar); no one
would have to complain about being a peasant farmer.
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| There are few "extras" in the lives of the indigenous in the Mountain |
If I could, I would look for ways to bring joy to the
children and youth and adults, so that they could enjoy every stage of life, so
that they could grow as human beings, so that they could interact with creation
with joy and dignity, so that there would be no sadness or tears or misery or violence.
If I could, I would break down the walls that separate us
as rich and poor, as slaves and free, as natives and non-natives. All humans
would be sisters and brothers living in our common home, and there would be no
borders to divide us.
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| Children in Yuvi Nani (long river in na savi) |
If I could, I would create educational institutions that
provide high-quality education to all. Parents would not have to suffer so much
to educate their children; teachers would receive a decent salary.
If I could, I would build better hospitals and see that
they were well-equipped and with qualified nurses and doctors. No one would be
left out in terms of access to health care, and the health personnel would not
discriminate in the case of indigenous patients.
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| Even those who are elderly have to work if they wish to eat |
If I could, I would establish universities that relate to
the interests and culture of the peoples. They would be designed to respond to
the economic and cultural needs of the people; the goal would not just be to
provide a cheap labor force for big business.
If I could, I would demand that our Mother Earth be
respected, that there be more concern for the environment. I would work to bring
an end to contamination and to the use of poisonous chemicals.
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| Candles and flowers—essentials if one is going to approach God |
If I could, I would see that all reforms are planned, not
from a desk in an ivory tower, but in consultation with the peoples affected by
such reforms. Everyone would work together for the well-being of all.
If I could, I would work for just laws and
legal institutions, where the rich can not buy decisions, where there is no
impunity, where there is no corruption. The rich would not be allowed to become
richer at the cost of the poor becoming poorer.
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| When the bishop visits, the women prepare food for all |
If I could, I would see that everyone, even the most
impoverished, had a dignified home. One of the best ways for this to happen is
to offer decent jobs and decent wages.
If I could, I would allow the indigenous people to follow
their traditional customs of assemblies and consensus in electing their
governing authorities. Political parties often divide and discriminate.
Transparency, honesty, and service would be the hallmarks of those who get
involved in politics.
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| Israel, Antonieta, and Baltazar in their school uniforms |
If I could, I would work so that our Catholic Church be
more committed in evangelizing and combating the structures of death in our
villages. The pastoral agents should work to create missionary disciples who
organize to bring and to be good news. Our priests should be spiritual guides
who, by word and by example, accompany us in our daily struggles.
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| Bishop Dagoberto receives a live turkey as a farewell present |
